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Saturday, April 27, 2013

During Book Expo, there will be an auction to benefit ABFFE. Here's a little blurb from their website:

The Annual Children’s Book Art Silent Auction and Reception has been a highlight of children’s programming at BookExpo America
for the last 19 years. This event offers a unique opportunity to buy
beautiful, original art in children’s literature from leading,
award-winning artists and illustrators of children’s books and a chance
to socialize with friends from around the country, while supporting the
all-important efforts opposing the censorship of children’s books and
authors nationwide. This is a highly anticipated and fun event on the
industry’s social calendar, and the only annual event where the entire
children’s book industry is in the same room, including booksellers,
publishers, authors, artists, illustrators, other industry
professionals, and fans of illustrated children’s books and supporters
of the free speech rights of young readers.

This year there is a special tribute to Maurice Sendak. His book In the Night Kitchen was challenged and banned by many libraries. As many of you know, Sandak died this past year. It was a great loss for the children's book community. The auction will have a section of tribute art in his honor. I hoped to convey his peaceful departure with my piece. A line from his book Where the Wild Things Are stuck in my mind at the time of his death. "Oh please don't go - we'll eat you up - we love you so!"

This is my tribute. I worry that it is more like a copy than my own interpretation, but I have looked at this book so many times throughout my life that when I picked up my pencils and paintbrush to begin, this is just what came out. I hope my contribution will help with the fight against book censorship.

PLEASE DON'T USE MY ART

Liza Woodruff

About Me

I am a children's book illustrator and have worked in this field for twenty years. I just finished illustrating my twenty-third book. My first picture book both written and illustrated by me is called EMERSON BARKS, Henry Holt/Christy Ottaviano Books, August, 2016.